Agriturismo Villa Marmini

The Villa Marmini lies on the outskirts of Volterra, a city which is in the heart of Tuscany, equidistant from Pisa, Florence and Siena. It is immersed in a landscape that maintains much of its centuries old beauty. It is near the medieval city of San Gimignano and within easy reach of the Etruscan coastline.

The agriturismo Villa Marmini extends over 5 hectares, and is approximately 1½ kilometers from the historical center of Volterra. One can even take a long walk from our accommodations to the city, along some of the original Roman roads which connected Volterra to Florence.

Our property contains the only Etruscan tombs in this area, which may be entered. These shallow underground tombs belong to the ancient Etruscan necropolis, and were excavated by previous owners of Villa Marmini. The excavated cinerary urns are now in the Etruscan Museum of Volterra and the Archeological Museum of Florence. In fact "Marmini" refers to the limestone and alabaster rock fragments, including Etruscan urns, called marmi, which were utilized to construct the villa. Some of the urn fragments are still visible in the ancient wall which encircles the villa's courtyard.

A common room, with typical farmhouse aspect, is used to serve guests a breakfast (upon request) of local, delicious products from Volterra and Tuscany.

Our 14 m long swimming pool, with solarium, is surrounded by the olive trees and garden. We may also serve you meals here of typical Tuscan cuisine, always upon specific reservation. You may walk among the fruit trees, grape vines, chestnut trees, and stroll in the woods where we tend the goats and beehives.

Location: Volterra,    Province: Pisa

Volterra is a small Tuscan city, located in the province of Pisa, at 556 m elevation, and on the sandstone spur that separates the Era and Cecina river valleys. The sandy terrain is incised by calanchi, areas of rapid erosion. The Balze (cliffs) to one side of Volterra are a spectacular example of calanchi. Isolated, and yet strategically situated, this city with ancient roots has always managed to maintain its unique qualities-the different traditions of Tuscany are found here. Principal economic resources are the artistic working of alabaster, which has ancient origins, gold craftsmanship, and tourism. Cereals and other crops are grown in the countryside. There are also chemical and mechanical factories scattered about, the mining of a very pure rock salt, based in Saline di Volterra, has also an important and long history.

How to reach the bed and breakfast
From Florence
- Highway A1 Bologna/Firenze, direction Firenze; exit "Firenze Certosa"
- Freeway Firenze/Siena, direction Siena; exit "Colle Val d'Elsa Nord"
- Street S.S. 68 to Volterra

From Pisa:
- Highway A15 Parma/La Spezia, direction La Spezia; exit La Spezia
- Highway A12 Genova/Rosignano, direction Rosignano; exit "Pisa centro"
- S.G.C. Pisa/Firenze, direction Firenze; exit Pontedera Ponsacco
- Street S.S. 439 to Volterra

Included in the price:  The pool is available to all guests, and open from May to October. Usage is included with your stay at our agriturismo. The service of towels and linens is provided with the apartments. Guests must notify the owners of their intent to bring pets, at the time of reservation. There is a private parking area on the grounds of the agriturismo.

On request:  Refreshments including dinner are not included. We may provide meals if a specific request and reservation are made. Upon request, we may provide typical Volterran and Tuscan specialties. The breakfast in not included in the price. Upon specific request, we may provide breakfast.

To be paid on the spot:  During the months of May to September (that is fall to early spring), the apartments will be heated by the owners. From October to April, any heating costs will be paid by the guests. The listed price does not include the fee for cleaning. The Leccio and Roseto apartment requires a euro 40 fee for the final cleaning, the Lemonaia, Melograno and Granaio apartment a euro 30 fee for the final cleaning.

How to book: When making a reservation, the guest must make a deposit equivalent to 30% of the anticipated total costs. The deposit must be sent by bank transfer (bonifico bancario) or postal order (vaglia postale). Deposits may be refunded up until thirty days before the reservation date. At the arrival time, guests are requested to complete payment and also leave a 150 euro deposit. At the end of the stay the deposit will be returned after making allowances for any broken or damaged furniture.

Apartment Granaio: The "Granaio" is a large single-room apartment, which is equipped for handicapped guests, up to four guests may be accommodated. The room has a brick vaulted ceiling and stone walls, typical of a Tuscan farmhouse. The room had originally been used for cereals, and thus it is now decorated with a motif echoing the Tuscan countryside in June: golden ears of ripe wheat which sway in the wind, interspersed with red poppies and azure cornflowers. It suggests the timeless scenery of the countryside. Care has been given to all details in the furnishings. The bathtub with shower, sink and toilet, along with the linens and tableware, are decorated with flowers. The small kitchen is behind a screen. The large open room contains a fold-out sofa which sleeps two, which is situated by a large glass door which receives sun, and opens onto the garden and swimming pool. A double bed is in a romantic alcove, with stone walls; the bed frame is wrought iron, evoking a past when frames like these were typical in Tuscan farmhouses. This single-room apartment has its own large exterior space, with a flower garden. Here you can find a table and chairs. The area is set apart from the rest of the property by a mature boxwood vine grown in an arch.

Apartment Limonaia: The "Limonaia" is a beautiful two-room apartment, it comfortably accommodates four guests. Here one finds the massive beamed ceilings typical of original Tuscan farmhouses. These rooms were originally the lemon-house for Villa Marmini, during winter the lemon trees in their vases would be placed inside. The d

Apartment Leccio: The "Leccio" (holm oak, typical of our woods) is the name given to these rooms originally used by the farm assistants. The restructured apartment is over 100 m2, and can lodge up to eight people. Guests will find a terrace in front of the apartment, furnished with tables and chairs. The area is shaded by the centuries-old holm oak. Inside, you will find a large living area with sofa-bed, armchairs, and also a working fireplace which will provide warmth during the cooler months. Next comes the eating area, light comes in through the arched window, you can see the garden below. This area opens into a small yet well-furnished kitchen. Guests will find three furnished bedrooms: * the rose room, a double bed in a wooden bed frame, care has been given to the decor, and a small window overlooks the valley; * the green room, with its own bathroom with bathtub and shower, furnished with an antique oak closet; * a third bedroom faces the garden, a beautiful wrought iron bed frame makes this a romantic area. The apartment's main and ample bathroom is decorated in turquoise, it also has a wash machine.

Apartment Roseto: Roseto is an apartment obtained from a wing of the owner's villa, occupied in 1700 by Monsignor Franceschini, Etruscan expert from Volterra, who ordered to dig in his properties two etruscan tombs still visitable. It is built on 2 floors for about 75 sqm and it can accomodate up to 6 people. The apartment is maybe the richest in fascination with rooms still decorated with ancient frescos. The entrance door opens on the wide courtyard with the original stone pavement, delimited by a wall where are some frontons of Etruscan urns. In a romantic gazebo, shadowed by an old glicine tree, is a table for romantic dinners in candle lights. The kitchen is in style but very functional with all the modern household-electric, that are embedded in the wall, which is blue, typical colour from 800, and a big marble table in the centre of the room. The bathroom is little but well furnished. The rooms are really luminous and wide. * The pink bedroom has a canopy bed, a wardrobe decorated in the typical style from Florence, carpets and curtains that give a particular fascination. * The blue room, with a canopy bed too, has the same nostalgic parfume with two wide windows from where you can enjoy the beautiful valley. * The third room, that can become a little drawing-room, overflowed all day by the sun, in front of a wonderfull landscape.

Melograno: 

Rates.

---